Support

Zaychess is a local-first macOS chess app with hot-seat play, a built-in AI opponent (the Serendipity engine) and online multiplayer through a relay matchmaking server.

Save and load games as .chesslog files, then continue them against either a human player or the AI.

• Local hot-seat play with automatic board flipping, SAN move list and captured piece tracking.
• Play against the Serendipity AI with adjustable difficulty and style-biased lower levels.
• Queue for online multiplayer through the relay server.
• Save and load .chesslog games, then continue the same position against a human or the AI.
• Undo and redo that handle AI turns correctly.

macOS 12.0 or later.

Networking

Online multiplayer uses the relay matchmaking server for queueing and game session routing.

• Data collection: no account, no tracking, no analytics; all data is stored locally.
• Network use: only for optional online multiplayer through the relay server.
• Privacy policy: jeremyzay.com/zaychess/privacy

• No known relay multiplayer networking issues at this time.
• If matchmaking stalls, cancel and re-queue from the multiplayer screen.
• Very rarely, rapidly entering and leaving the multiplayer queue can desync the loading state; the next queue attempt may incorrectly match you to your own session. If this happens, return to the main menu, then re-enter multiplayer and queue again.
• Some Bluetooth audio devices may delay the first move sound after long silence.

• Development builds: zaychess.log in the app directory.
• Packaged app: check ~/Library/Logs/Zaychess/ (if present) or share a crash report from Console.app.
• If the issue is game-state related, include the affected .chesslog file if available.

Include your macOS version, Zaychess version, game mode (local, AI or multiplayer) and the steps to reproduce.